Airdrop Eligibility Checklist | From Preparation to Application Completion [2026]

Have you ever missed out on an airdrop opportunity because you overlooked the eligibility requirements? This article organizes airdrop eligibility requirements into a 10-item checklist and explains the process from preparation to application completion.

What you'll learn from this article

✅ The requirements needed to participate in airdrops

✅ How to verify everything with a 10-item checklist

✅ The differences in eligibility requirements by airdrop type

✅ How to avoid common pitfalls in advance

For basic knowledge about airdrops, see "👉 How to Get Started with Airdrops" for a detailed explanation. This article focuses specifically on checking eligibility "requirements."

To participate in an airdrop, you need to meet the conditions set by each project. The common requirements generally expected are as follows:

• Wallet ownership: A crypto wallet such as MetaMask is required. The supported chains (Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, etc.) also vary by project.
• Token holdings / usage history: You may need to hold specific tokens or have a track record of using certain protocols.
• Social media accounts: Following or joining on X (formerly Twitter), Discord, and Telegram is often a requirement.
• KYC (identity verification): Recently, airdrops requiring KYC are on the rise. You'll need to prepare a passport or driver's license.
• Snapshot eligibility: Since your on-chain state at a specific point in time is recorded, you need to meet the conditions before the deadline.

These conditions vary significantly by project, so always check the latest information on the official website and official social media. Relying solely on information from unofficial aggregation sites is risky.

Before applying for an airdrop, check the following 10 items. Missing even one could cause you to lose your eligibility.

1. Wallet Preparation

Prepare a compatible wallet such as MetaMask. We recommend creating a dedicated sub-wallet for airdrop participation. By keeping it separate from your main wallet, you can diversify risk in case of any issues.

2. Securing Gas Fees

Deposit a small amount of gas fees (ETH, BNB, MATIC, etc.) needed for transaction execution into your participation wallet. Gas fees can spike during network congestion, so prepare a comfortable amount.

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Furthermore, by completing KYC and verifying tasks from your Candy Drops My Page, you can earn 50,000 Candy Drops points that can be used to enter regularly held campaigns.

Don't miss this opportunity to participate.

3. Checking the Supported Chain

Verify which blockchain the airdrop is being conducted on. If necessary, add the network (Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, etc.) to your wallet via custom RPC settings.

4. Checking KYC (Identity Verification) Requirements

If KYC is required, prepare valid identification documents such as a passport or driver's license in advance. KYC procedures can take several days, so it's important to handle them early.

5. Understanding the Snapshot Date and Time

If there is a snapshot (a record at a specific point in time to determine eligible participants), know the exact date and time. Don't forget to convert to your local time zone, and make sure to meet the required conditions before the deadline.

6. Preparing Social Media Accounts

Create and set up required social media accounts such as X (formerly Twitter), Discord, and Telegram in advance. Newly created accounts are more likely to be flagged as bots, so having a completed profile and some activity history provides peace of mind.

7. Checking Token Holding Requirements

If you need to hold a certain amount or more of a specific token, verify the required quantity and holding period. If you don't meet the conditions at the time of the snapshot, you'll be excluded.

8. Checking Protocol Usage History

For retroactive airdrops, past protocol usage history is a requirement. You need to execute specified actions such as swaps, liquidity provision, and staking in advance.

9. Checking Eligibility (Nationality / Regional Restrictions)

Some airdrops exclude residents of certain countries or regions. Always verify whether Japan is included in the eligible regions by checking the official terms of service.

10. Confirming Application Form and Task Completion

After completing all tasks (social media follows, form submissions, testnet operations, etc.), do a final check for any typos in wallet addresses or email addresses before submitting. Saving transaction hashes and screenshots of completion screens can be helpful in case of later issues.

Airdrop eligibility requirements and difficulty levels vary significantly by type. Use the comparison table below to understand the differences.

Retroactive

This type distributes tokens based on past usage of DeFi protocols and bridges. Major airdrops like Uniswap, Arbitrum, and Optimism used this format. While the rewards are large, you need to build up usage history in advance, and you won't know if you're eligible until after the snapshot.

Holder

The requirement is holding specific tokens or NFTs. Since your holding status at the time of the snapshot is the criterion, it's important to verify the required holding period and quantity in advance.

Task-based

You can participate by completing specified tasks such as social media follows, retweets, Discord participation, and testnet operations. While accessible for beginners, the rewards per person tend to be relatively small.

Candy Drops regularly runs collaboration campaigns with projects, offering airdrops where even beginners can earn cryptocurrency by completing tasks.

Lottery

The simplest type where you can participate just by filling in the required information in an application form. While the chances of winning are low, it requires almost no effort, so it's worth applying whenever you find one.

Candy Drops campaigns offer cryptocurrency through lottery draws. While some require form submissions to verify winners, most can be completed simply by applying through Candy Drops.

Even if you think you've verified the airdrop eligibility requirements, there are many cases where participation is lost due to mistakes like these. Knowing about them in advance can help you avoid them.

1. Missing the Snapshot Date and Time

Cases where you didn't know the snapshot date and time, and the snapshot was completed before you met the conditions. Official announcements often use UTC notation, so don't forget to convert to your local time zone.

2. Wrong Supported Chain

Cases where you held tokens on the Ethereum mainnet, but the actual requirement was holding them on Arbitrum. It's important to accurately verify which chain requires the operations or holdings.

3. Applying Without Completing KYC

Cases where KYC-required airdrops were missed because identity verification procedures were postponed and couldn't be completed before the deadline. Authentication on KYC platforms can take several days, so complete it early.

4. Disqualification Due to Bot Detection

If your social media account has too little activity history or you execute a large number of tasks in a short time, you may be flagged as a bot (automated operation) and disqualified. It's important to maintain moderate activity on your accounts regularly.

5. Wallet Address Typos

If even one character of the submitted wallet address is wrong, you won't be able to receive your rewards. Make it a habit to use copy and paste and verify not just the first and last few characters but also the middle portion.

For detailed security measures, see "👉 How to Safely Participate in Crypto Airdrops" as well.

What are the requirements for participating in an airdrop?

Generally, owning a wallet (such as MetaMask) is required. Depending on the project, additional conditions such as token holdings, protocol usage history, or social media follows may apply.

Is KYC (identity verification) required?

It depends on the project. Recently, airdrops requiring KYC have been increasing. Having a passport or driver's license ready will make the process smoother.

What is a snapshot?

A snapshot is a record of the blockchain's state at a specific point in time, used to determine airdrop recipients. If your wallet contains tokens that meet the conditions at the time of the snapshot, you'll be eligible.

Let's review the key points for reliably meeting airdrop eligibility requirements.

• Use the 10-item checklist to verify everything before participating
• Understand that conditions differ by airdrop type (retroactive, holder, task-based, lottery)
• Pay special attention to snapshot dates, supported chains, and KYC requirements, as these are easily overlooked
• Don't neglect security measures and refer only to official information
• Save evidence of task completion (transaction hashes, screenshots)

For how to get started with airdrops and the overall process, see "👉 How to Get Started with Airdrops." For security measures, also check "👉 How to Safely Participate in Crypto Airdrops."